About Me

Hi everyone, my name is Richard Farleigh; I’ve been involved with weight training and bodybuilding for many years.

During this time I have gone through many phases.

I have trained for mass, which is what most of us are here for, right?

However, along with my desire to put on as much muscle mass as possible, many challenges and set-backs were encountered along the way.

The reason I created the Bodybuilding for Mass website is to help individuals, like you, to gain muscle mass and achieve maximal muscle size and definition. I aim to do this through sharing my own experiences of what works and what doesn’t work.

It is also of utmost importance to maintain good health, and nutrition, whilst adding muscle mass to your frame. So, I will also be covering those areas through what I have discovered over the years through my own ‘trial and error’ experiments.

If anything on this site captures your interest, or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get involved within my site. I love to talk about any aspect of bodybuilding, health, nutrition and fitness. So, if you wish to share your opinion, or have interesting information you wish to share, please speak up. I love your feedback.

More About Me

I am in my 40’s and according to a BMI calculator I am ‘Overweight’.

I am 6ft 4inches and weigh 262lbs (119kg).

Now, we all know muscle weighs more than fat, right? So, am I happy with my current weight? Damn right I am.

My Story

I messed around with weights for a few years, in my teens, before I really got into it.

The ‘Big Change’ for me came with the discovery of – whom else – Arnold Schwarzenegger. What a guy!!!

I then got serious.

Not far from where I lived, a bodybuilding supplement and apparel shop opened and hence I purchased my first bodybuilding supplement stack. By the way, I still believe that pack was the best supplement stack I have ever taken (I don’t think it is available now). I also began training under the guidance of the shop proprietor, who happened to be a former Mr. Australia.

I began developing a great physique – not just my own opinion – those around me, guys and girls alike were letting me know.

However, through my trainer/former Mr. Australia, I was then offered steroids. Believe me; I did give it consideration before declining. I was then told there was no way I could succeed in bodybuilding and was subsequently dropped from further guidance.

My training partner, who agreed to the steroid use, went on to win competitions and also dropped me as a training partner. This hurt.

Over the years since, I have gained a lot of knowledge through trial and error. That knowledge, I wish to share with you.

Bodybuilding has developed, a thousand fold, and now there are drug free ‘Natural Bodybuilding’ competitions worldwide, for varying age groups. Also many products are available which can assist greatly in your desire of bodybuilding for mass.

Love your page! I have read almost all of your posts.. at the end of the day, I was lucky enough to see your transformation first hand. Growing up I always thought you were “Super Strong” (at one point I secretly thought you were a ninja).. After becoming a mother and putting on a good 20kg myself, joining a gym and training hard, I realised how much hard work and effort you put in constantly, not just with training but with general health and wellbeing too. You’re an inspiration DAD and I love that your delicious home made smoothies can now be enjoyed by others searching for a healthy yet surprisingly sweet and satisfying treat. I’m really proud of you! Love you!

The best thing in life, I think, is when we can be a good example to those closest to us and then to as many others as possible. A great legacy to leave is that of inspiration and encouragement to those who follow.

I just wanted to applaud you for not taking steriods. I have been lifting very hard myself for over a decade, not as a bodybuilder but as a strength athlete, and I, too, have forgone all the drugs and instead focused on good nutrition like I see you constantly advocating on this site. It takes patience and you don’t go to the same level as the users, but your body will thank you for the choice you made down the road. Anyway, I wanted to say your site was well done and that I admire any of my iron brothers who choose the more challenging, yet more healthy natural path. Always encourages me to see someone choose the road less traveled. Wish you the best and great luck with your new venture.

Thank you for visiting my site and taking the time to leave such great positive feedback.

When you say ‘It takes patience and you don’t go to the same level as the users’, that is so true and there have certainly been times when I have considered the alternate path. Simply because I LOVE the way those guys look (the ones that manage it in balance).

You know what I mean?

Looking through the bodybuilding magazines and viewing DVD’s and workout videos of the pros with the quads hangin’ and shoulders like cannon balls etc.

However, then as you say ‘your body will thank you for the choice you made down the road’ – I believe this also is true.
It really is a risky business with numerous side effects that are known and probably many yet to surface.

Also, there are now awesome opportunities for the Natural Bodybuilder – and hey, don’t those guys look Great!

I do believe in, and use, supplements – I know there is a degree of controversy over these as well. However, over the years I have studied and experimented with a number of different supplements, and truly feel certain ones work very well. I also feel many are based on hype and not much else.

I always feel so much more incredible going into my workout after consuming a good pre workout drink.

Thank you for your well wishes and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Rich! I just got into weight training and I gotta say reading your posts truly is an inspiration. I’m focused now on bodybuilding and have started eating a lot cleaner. You really hit key points as far as lifting here- definitely a bookmarked site!

Hi! You did the right thing not to start using steroids! I think that if you can’t compete and win without steroids, then there is something very wrong with the tournament, not the individuals who choose the natural way. Good for you not to take that crap! Cheers, Kristina

The great thing is that over the past decade or so Natural Bodybuilding has come a long way and there are competitions and federations devoted to supporting the natural bodybuilder.

You know…when we make certain choices throughout life, we sometimes will look back and wonder ‘What if…?’
I have wondered at times – when I see the Big Guys, or ‘Freaks’ as some say, how far I may have got if I had of chose that path.

However, I always come back to feeling good about not taking ‘that crap’.

I don’t know much about Bodybuilding but it looks like you are headed in the right direction with your niche here! Your site looks great so far! I like the idea of the pictures that help demonstrate the workouts, i’m sure those will really come in handy. Keep up the good work!